Utah Personal Injury Law Firm Blog

6:30pm on September 29, 2008 at 5400 South and 700 West a 7 year-old boy and a young girl were in a crosswalk when a Hummer turned right at the red traffic signal and hit the boy. According to KSL.com, the boy sustained serious head injuries and was life-flighted to Primary Children's Hospital.

I offer my condolences to this young boy and his family and wish him a full recovery. Please keep him in your prayers.

The driver of the Hummer stated that the sun was in her eyes, so she couldn't see the children. I have represented serveral people that were injured in a crosswalk when a car was turning right and although the sun can be a contributing factor, the most common reason for the accident is that the drivers are looking left to make sure the traffic is clear, but start their right-hand turn before checking to see if anyone is in the crosswalk.

Head trauma in pedesrian accidents are the primary cause of injury and death in these tragedies. Pedestrians are much more vulnerable to suffering head injuries in accidents because they are less stable, visible, and protected on the road.

Head injuries in car versus pedestrian accidents occur when a victims head makes sudden and violent contact with an unyielding object. This can result in a concussion or more serious head injuries when significant brain, spinal cord, and central nervous system damage is sustained.

Head injuries from pedestiran accidents are irreversible and can result in partial or permanent disability, serious neurological damage, and even death. This is estremely serous when a young child is involved. The family of the young boy involved in this accident may wish to contact a Utah pedestrian accident attorney who can help determine your rights and legal options. When another party is at fault for head injuries in motorcycle accidents, victims can seek restitution for medical expenses, future loss of income or earning potential, permanent disability, and damages for pain and suffering.

Lehi City's official slogan (since 1911) "Lehi is a good place to live" truly is an understatement, as Lehi residents demonstrate their enthusiasm for strong community involvement. Lehi City offers a wide range of recreational opportunities such as Historic Lehi, take a stroll down Old Main Street and visit the oldest standing original railroad station in the state, Heritage Theatre, Veteran's Baseball park and the Lehi Memorial Building, which was the first municipal structure in America specifically erected to honor the memory of World War I veterans. Jordan River Parkway runs through Lehi City, offering a nice scenic path for bikers, walkers and joggers.

Lehi has also seen numerous car and truck accidents. In the wintertime, Interstate 15 near the point of the mountain between Salt Lake and Utah counties can have some of the worst road and visibility conditions during a Utah weather storm. Sadly, many people have been seriously injured in car and truck accidents on I-15 near Cabelas and Thanksgiving Point.

If you have ever been in an accident, then you know first hand how it can be an extremely confusing and frustrating time. Deciding whether to hire a lawyer and even choosing the right lawyer can also be difficult. That is why I wrote the book “7 Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Utah Accident Case.” This book answers numerous questions my clients wished they would have known immediately after an accident. A former Allstate Insurance adjuster said that “no one should talk to an insurance adjustor or hire an attorney until they’ve read this book.” This book is free to Utah residents, just visit www.UtahAccidentBook.com to obtain your free copy.

The Lehi City accident attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm represent injured persons and their families. This is all we do. We do not divide our loyalties by representing insurance companies or corporations. We represent people. We go the extra mile for our clients, which in turn leads to better results for our clients. We truly provide service with integrity and compassion when you’ve been injured.

Whether you were hurt in a Lehi car accident, suffered a brain injury, or even were the victim of a dog bite, Kenneth L. Christensen and the top personal injury lawyers in Utah are ready to represent the interests of you and your family.

We do NOT charge a fee until there has been a monetary recovery in our client’s case and we advance all costs and expenses. Unlike most law firms, we do not take every case that comes through the door. We limit the amount of cases we take to ensure all our clients receive the personal attention they need and deserve during a difficult and confusing time.

All consultations, whether at our offices, your home or in a hospital room, are free. Call the experienced Lehi City accident attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm today at (801) 224-2999.

On September 22, 2008, six year-old Amelia Cordova was riding her bike near 300 North and 300 East when a car hit her and left the scene. Amelia was unconscious and suffered a broken arm, concussion and bruises. Police are looking for a light grey or green colored minivan. The van may have front end damage to its bumper. If anyone witnessed this accident or has seen a matching minivan, please contact police.

I offer my condolences to Amelia Cordova and her family and hope the community can help find the person responsible for this sad accident.

Sadly, 100,000 pedestrians are injured each year and half of those injuries result in death. Even worse, many of these accidents are caused by a driver's inattentiveness and the driver leaves the scene and can't be found.

After a Utah hit-and-run accident, victims are left with expensive medical bills and serious injuries and don't know what to do. Fortunately, if you are involved in a Utah hit-and-run accident and have proof that the accident was caused by the negligence of another, you can make a claim for both medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages under your household's own automobile insurance policy.

Amelia's family would benefit from contacting a Utah pedestrian accident attorney who can help explain what insurance policies may apply and how their damages can be fully covered.

According to a Deseret News report, Woman in Critical Condition After I-15 Crash in Utah County, a Centerville woman in her mid 20s was seriously injured when her tire shredded causing her car to roll northbound on I-15 near milepost 284.

The Centerville woman was life-flighted in critical condition. Please keep her in your prayers.

The police department said they are investigating whether speed was a factor in this accident, but when a defective tire shreds while driving on a freeway, speed is clearly not the cause or a contributor to the accident.

Tire manufacturers have known that a leading cause of tread separation is due to the design and placement of the belts and overlying tread. Tread and belt separations can also occur from poor adhesion of the tire components. Poor adhesion results from the use of old and expired adhesives, improper temperatures and unclean manufacturing facilities used in the manufacturing process. Poor adhesion may also be the result of contaminants introduced during manufacturing such as rust, moisture, oxidation, grease, sawdust, gum wrappers and even cigarette butts.

If tire shredding causes an accident, the manufacturer, distributor, and/or retailer of the tire may be responsible for the accident. If you or a loved one have been seriously injured, or a loved one has been killed, as the result of a tire defect, tire failure, tread separation, tire blowout, rollover accident, or any other serious injury accident, then please contact the Christensen Law Firm to discuss your legal rights. It is important to immediatly preserve all four tires and other evidence in these cases and a Utah Personal Injury lawyer can help with this.

There are about 17,000 alcohol related car accident deaths in the United States each year, this means that there is a drunk driving death every 31 minutes. Alcohol was a factor in 39 percent of all fatal accidents and in 7 percent of all crashes in 2004. Additionally about 248,000 people are injured in accidents where police reported that alcohol was present, thus one person is injured in a drunk driving accident in the US every 2 minutes.

While Utah’s statistics are lower than the national average, they are still startling. In 2006, 19% of all traffic fatalities involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher. These incredible statistics reveal why drunk driving is a major public policy issue.

All 50 states in the US apply statutory offenses to driving under the influence of alcohol. The offense is known either as driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated/impaired (DWI), or operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated/impaired (OWI). This is based upon a police officer's observations (driving behavior, slurred speech, the results of a roadside sobriety test, etc.).

If you or someone you know has been injured in a Utah DUI car accident, they would be well advised to consult with a Utah Accident Attorney. Insurance companies have made it a practice to try and settle these claims quickly, before victims can consult with a lawyer. They do this as fast as possible because most DUI car accident victims do not understand the aggravated circumstances may qualify you for additional damages and can add significant value to your claim.

To learn more about the insurance companies’ tactics or to consult with a Utah drunk driving accident attorney, request a free copy of a book I wrote for Utah accident victims at www.UtahAccidentBook.com

Seat belts save lives in car accidents, but they are not designed for children. Beginning at around age 4, many children are too large for toddler seats but too small for adult safety belts. However, because many State laws only require children to be in a safety seat up to age 4 or so, many parents assume older kids are safe in just an adult safety belt. This is not true. From age four to age eight, the safest way for children to ride in automobiles is in the back seat in a booster seat. However, statistics show that less than one out of every five kids between the ages of four and eight is riding in a booster seat. Sadly, there are approximately 350 children ages 4 to 8 who die every year in automobile crashes, and half of those children are not in booster seats.

While booster seat use has increased in recent years, there is obviously improvement still to be made. One study estimates that booster seat use in the United States range from only 10 to 20 percent, leaving the vast majority of booster-age children at risk. Fortunately, after declaring that booster seat use is dangerously low in the United States, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced a new federal initiative that would provide $25 million over the next four years to states that pass and enforce new or tougher booster seat laws. As a result, nearly every state has now passed some kind of child booster seat law.

As children grow, how they sit in your car should change as follows:

1) Rear Facing Seats – Children from birth to at least one year old and at least 20 pounds should ride in the back seat in rear facing seats.

2) Forward-Facing Toddler Seats – children from age one and twenty pounds to age 4 and 40 pounds should ride in the back seat in forward-facing toddler seats.

3) Booster Seats – Children from age four to age eight should ride in the back seat in booster seats, until 4’9’’ tall.

4) Safety Belts – Children age eight or older or taller than 4’9’’ should be secured in a safety belt and all children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat to avoid injury from air bags.

Sadly, there are too many accidents where children are killed or seriously injured because they were not seatbelted properly. We ask everyone to study the children seat belt laws for their state and follow them.

On September 12, 2008 a Metrolink commuter train collided with a freight train in Chatsworth, California killing at least 25 people and injuring 135 more. According to news sources the Metrolink train was carrying as many as 350 rush hour passengers when it slammed into a freight train in San FernandoValley.

Investigations have revealed that while traveling on a track, trains must go through a series of signals and each one of the signals must be obeyed. Officials believe that the Metrolink commuter train operator failed to stop at red stop signals, and that was the cause of the accident.

Our nation mourns as we continue to see the tragic affects of this train accident that never should have happened. Please keep these victims and their families in your prayers.

There is no doubt Metrolink and possibly other companies will have to take responsibility for this accident and the damages caused by their gross negligence. When they do, the victims and their families would be well advised to contact a California train wreck attorney to ensure their rights are fully protected.

Fortunately, these victims already have California’s best personal injury lawyer, John Bisnar and his staff looking after and protecting their rights. I know John Bisnar and can say there is no finer attorney to handle this sensitive case. Not only does he have experience handling California train accidents, he goes the extra mile for his clients.

If you or your loved ones were involved in this tragic accident, I strongly encourage you to contact Chatsworth Metrolink train wreck lawyer, John Bisnar; you’ll be glad you did.

If you’ve ever bought a new car, you know what a rush it is. There’s the new car smell, the feeling of power as you hit the accelerator, and the peace of mind knowing that you’ll have a reliable ride for a long, long time.

But what happens when that new car isn’t so reliable? When you wake up one morning and have to come to terms with the fact that you’ve bought a lemon? At www.LemonJustice.com Lemon Law Sergei Lemberg offers an overview of Utah lemon law.

Sergei notes that every state has a lemon law, but that each of them is different. Under Utah’s lemon law, some vehicles qualify as lemons and others don’t. If you’ve bought or leased a new car, SUV, van, or truck less that weighs less than 12,000 pounds, you’re covered. If you buy an RV, you’re covered if you have a problem with the chassis (but not the living quarters). If you buy a motorcycle – yep, you’re covered.

Now, on to definitions. In order to be considered a “lemon,” your vehicle’s defects have to affect its use, safety, or value. In other words, if it’s something minor, you don’t have a case. According to Sergei, the other catch is that the defects have to occur during the first year from the delivery date or the expiration of the warranty – whichever comes first. In addition, the vehicle must have been taken in four times for the same problem or been out of service for a total of 30 days during the first year or the warranty period, whichever comes first.

Sergei is quick to point out that manufacturers have teams of lawyers that do nothing but fight lemon law claims, and that battling them will be much easier with a lemon law attorney at your side. The good news is that, if your claim is successful, the manufacturer has to pay your attorney fees. That being said, with the help of a lawyer, you can often get a refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement without having to go through the entire lemon law process – and get your attorney’s fees covered in the process.

Murray City, centrally located between Midvale City and Holladay, in the Salt Lake Valley, is one of the oldest cities in Utah and it boasts of its exciting beginnings. In 1902, after a riot and fire was started by a group of smelter workers in a local saloon, a local newspaper editor began the fight for city incorporation with the vision to bring more order and community involvement in city planning and maintenance. Today, Murray City has surpassed this goal and provides for most of its own services including police, fire, power, water, and sewer. Community activism remains strong through the social networking with in the city government, library events, volunteer committees, senior centers, parks and recreation departments.

Car accidents are a daily occurrence in Murray. State Street, I-15 and Highland Drive all run through Murray and have seen some of the worst accidents in the entire state. If you have ever been in an accident, then you know first hand how it can be an extremely confusing and frustrating time. Deciding whether to hire a lawyer and even choosing the right lawyer can also be difficult. That is why I wrote the book “7 Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Utah Accident Case.” This book answers numerous questions my clients wished they would have known immediately after an accident. A former Allstate Insurance adjuster said that “no one should talk to an insurance adjustor or hire an attorney until they’ve read this book.” This book is free to Utah residents, just visit www.UtahAccidentBook.com to obtain your free copy.

The Murray City accident attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm represent injured persons and their families. This is all we do. We do not divide our loyalties by representing insurance companies or corporations. We represent people. We go the extra mile for our clients, which in turn leads to better results for our clients. We truly provide service with integrity and compassion when you’ve been injured.

Whether you were hurt in a Murray car accident, suffered a brain injury, or even were the victim of a dog bite, Kenneth L. Christensen and the top personal injury lawyers in Utah are ready to represent the interests of you and your family.

We do NOT charge a fee until there has been a monetary recovery in our client’s case and we advance all costs and expenses. Unlike most law firms, we do not take every case that comes through the door. We limit the amount of cases we take to ensure all our clients receive the personal attention they need and deserve during a difficult and confusing time.

All consultations, whether at our offices, your home or in a hospital room, are free. Call the experienced Murray City accident attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm today at (801) 506-0800.

While Taylorsville may be one of Utah’s newest cities, the area has a rich history dating back to 1848 when pioneers Joseph and Susanna Harker crossed over the Jordan River and founded the Taylorsvill-Bennion areas. Taylorsville is centrally located in the Salt Lake Valley; residents enjoy easy access to I-15 and I-215, light rail system and a mere fifteen minutes commute to the Salt Lake International Airport.

The Taylorsville, Utah Personal Injury Attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm represent injured persons and their families. This is all we do. We do not divide our loyalties by representing insurance companies or corporations. We represent people. Whether you were hurt in a Taylorsville car accident, suffered a brain injury, or even were the victim of a Taylorsville dog bite incident, Kenneth L. Christensen and the top personal injury lawyers in Utah are ready to represent the interests of you and your family.

We do NOT charge a fee until there has been a monetary recovery in our client’s case and we advance all costs and expenses. Unlike most law firms, we do not take every case that comes through the door. We limit the amount of cases we take to ensure all our clients receive the personal attention they need and deserve during a difficult and confusing time.

All consultations, whether at our offices, your home or in a hospital room, are free. Call the experienced Taylorsville City accident attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm today at (801) 506-0800.

Riverton City, located in the Southwestern corner of the Salt Lake Valley, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the state of Utah. In the last few years, Riverton has been transforming from a rural farming town to a bustling suburban city attracting new businesses, recreation and housing developments. Two of these exciting additions are the Intermountain Riverton Hospital and a new high school, which are expected to be completed in mid to late 2009. Despite this rapid growth, Riverton inhabitants are committed to maintaining a high level of community interaction and respect for tradition. In commemoration of their dedication to “Peace, Progress and Tradition”, Riverton City is holding their 4th Annual “What’s Up in Riverton” community celebration on Saturday, September 20, 2008 in the Riverton City Main Park.

The Riverton, Utah Personal Injury Attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm represent injured persons and their families. This is all we do. We do not divide our loyalties by representing insurance companies or corporations. We represent people. Whether you were hurt in a Riverton auto accident, suffered a brain injury, or even were the victim of a Riverton dog bite incident, Kenneth L. Christensen and the top personal injury lawyers in Utah are ready to represent the interests of you and your family.

We do NOT charge a fee until there has been a monetary recovery in our client’s case and we advance all costs and expenses. Unlike most law firms, we do not take every case that comes through the door. We limit the amount of cases we take to ensure all our clients receive the personal attention they need and deserve during a difficult and confusing time.

All consultations, whether at our offices, your home or in a hospital room, are free. Call the experienced Riverton City accident attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm today at (801) 506-0800.

On September 10, 2008 a car accident occured on Highway 6 near milepost 196 that resulted in serious injuries. No further details have been released at this time, but we offer our condolences and wish all parties involved a full recovery.

According to KSL.com a reckless driver on September 8, 2008 that was under the influence of controlled substances, rammed his truck into several cars while traveling southbound on Interstate 15 in Davis County.

This reckless driver's insurance policy should cover the damage to the cars involved. However, the property damage portion of most insurance policies have very small limits and cannot fully cover all damages in accidents like this one. The victims may have to make a claim under their own insurance for the remaining damage. This can be extremely frustrating since they didn't cause the accident, especially since they will also be required to pay their deductibles. These victims would benefit from consulting with a Utah Accident Attorney, especially if they were injured in the accident.

An SUV was hit by a car and rolled September 8, 2008 near 800 South and State Street in Salt Lake City, according to a KSL report, Four Injured in Rollover Wreck.

The impact caused the SUV to roll several times. There were four passengers inside the SUV. A woman was thrown from the vehicle and man inside lost a finger when his hand was crushed.

A Salt Lake City man was attacked by two Pit Bulls today while walking his dog in his neighborhood. According to KUTV news report,Pit Bulls Attack Man While Walking His Dogs, the man was walking his dogs near 10 North and 1300 West when two pit bulls got loose from their yard and attacked him. The victim received serious flesh wounds and was transported by ambulance to the hospital.

The dog owner, Roland Lee, said that his dogs have never been aggressive and had never attacked anyone before, but under Utah law Lee is responsible for the actions of his dogs, even if it is the first time this has happened.

According to statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Pit Bulls and Rottweilers accounted for more than half the fatal dog attacks between 1977 and 1998. Over two thirds of the people I have represented in dog attack cases were bitten by either Pit Bulls or Rottweilers.

That said, all dog owners are responsible for their pets. They should make every attempt to keep the dog restrained in their home. The fact that these two pit-bulls were out of their neighborhood roaming the streets is a matter of grave concern.

This Salt Lake City dog bite victim will be well-advised to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney who has a track record of successfully handling dog bite cases and of counseling dog attack victims. He is entitled to significant compensation. A skilled attorney will look into how and where the victim can seek compensation to help pay for medical bills, lost wages as well as pain and suffering and future scar revision caused by these traumatic attacks. The dogs’ owner has almost no defense to a liability claim.

On September 4, 2008 near the intersection of 1200 West and North Temple in Salt Lake City, a 19-year-old, driving an SUV failed to pay attention to traffic in front of him and slammed into the back of a car with five people inside.

According to KSL.com there was no braking involved on the part of the SUV driver. The impact killed a 15-year
-old boy, Isaac Martinez, who was in the back seat of the car. The police are still investigating this Salt Lake City fatal car accident and no charges have been filed agains the driver at this time.

Please keep the Martinez family in your prayers. I offer my deepest condolences to them. I can’t imagine the grief this family and their close friends are enduring.

Accordingly to KSL news, a bicyclist suffered serious injuries when two cars collided at 2100 South and Main Street in Salt Lake City on September 4, 2008.

The injured bicyclist, who has not yet been identified, was pedaling southbound on Main Street when a car t-boned another car, causing it to hit the cyclist. The innocent bicyclist was transported by ambulance to a local hospital in critical condition.

I offer my condolences to all victims involved in this accident and wish everyone a fast and full recovery.

The victims of this accident would benefit from consulting with a Utah Pedestrian and Car Accident Attorney as several insurance policies may be applicable. I have represented people injured in similar accidents and it is always a fight to get insurance companies to accept responsibility when more than one vehicle is involved. An experienced Utah personal injury lawyer can ensure this innocent bicyclist receives full compensation for his injuries and damages.